Reviewing items that can be used in my classroom is so much fun! Recently Shoplet.com Office Supplies asked me to review various pens from Pilot. I was thrilled to do so because I knew I could use them in my classroom throughout the day. My students love to write with pens! It's almost like they feel like they're getting away with something when they do. Students write with pen when grading their work or when writing a rough draft and I don't want them to erase.

The Dr. Grip Frosted pen is wonderful! I really liked it because it was comfortable in my hand and the grip allowed me to control my pen strokes easily. The girls in my class will love this pen!

The Acroball Pro Hybrid pen is a medium point pen. I prefer fine point pens, but this one worked well. It contains a hybrid ink that is smear proof. The pens come in three different ink colors.

The Acroball Colors pen is also a medium point pen. It writes like the Pro Hybrid pen, smooth and comfortable grip. The pens also came in three different colors.

The Acroball Ballpoint pen was my favorite! It has a fine point which writes very smoothly. I loved they way it felt in my hand. I was really hoping the ink matched the pen color, but unfortunately all the pens had black ink.

I was recently asked by Shoplet.com Office Supplies to review the Easy Align Avery Self-Laminating ID Labels. Yes, please! Avery has managed to combine two of my favorite classroom must haves... labels and laminating! These are AMAZING! When the labels first arrived, I was a little confused about the process of designing, printing, and sticking.

No worries! Avery solved all my problems. I simply went to avery.com/print and downloaded their design software for my MAC. I decided to test the labels by making name tags for my daughters' cubbies in our mudroom. Designing was so simple! In six easy steps (and less than ten minutes) I had my labels designed, printed and ready to go.

I started teaching fractions a few weeks ago in math. Our math series comes with individual fraction strips for students to manipulate. Unfortunately, these strips break apart and many of the pieces have been lost. I really wanted a set of gigantic fraction strips without paying a fortune, so I decided to make my own!

I made the fraction strips in four different sizes. The extra large strips (11 x 17) are used for teaching whole class lessons. They're perfect for the large white board in front of my whole group area. The large fractions strips (8.5 x 14) are used on my portable white board easel. The medium fraction strips (11 x 8.5) are used at the table during my guided math groups. Finally, the small fractions strips (8.5 x 11) are for students to keep in their math folder.

Once the strips are printed, laminated, and cut, magnetic strips can be placed on the back for use on the white board.

Or strips can be printed, laminated, and cut into fraction pieces. The great thing is when a piece is lost, simply print it again. No more missing fraction pieces!!

The fraction strips are available in color and black & white!

I printed the black & white strips from my computer straight to the copier at school. The small, medium, and large colored strips were printed on my personal printer. Since the school copier does not print in color, I had the extra large fraction strips made at my local print shop. The total cost for printing and laminating was under $4.00!